CRAIG LEWIS identifies five emerging youngsters who will be worth keeping an eye on in 2018. Juarno Augustus The talented No 8 announced his arrival in no uncertain terms after he was named the World Rugby U20 Championship Player of 2017. Augustus will now be looking to make a name for himself at senior level, and he will provide the… Read more →
The inevitable delays and lack of clarity around the likely restructuring of the Springbok coaching team means that expectations have to be realigned ahead of the 2018 season, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Last week, the Boks’ season review was expected to take place. With this in mind, many would have hoped for a swift process that saw Allister Coetzee’s fate signed,… Read more →
SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux admits it is becoming increasingly difficult to compete on an international level as a result of the player exodus. In an interview with Rugby World magazine, Roux highlighted the challenges facing South African rugby due to the ever-increasing player drain. ‘Last year we had 373 players playing in European club competitions. Any other country that… Read more →
Dawie Theron, Jimmy Stonehouse and Pieter Rossouw have confirmed the end of their coaching stints in the Japanese Top League. Theron, a former Junior Boks coach, joined the Docomo Red Hurricanes in July 2016 on a three-year contract but he has informed his employers that he will not be available for a third year as he wishes to return to… Read more →
An official announcement on the expected axeing of Allister Coetzee will only be made in the new year. No formal announcement on Coetzee’s future will be made until SA Rugby has followed all the necessary legal labour processes. However, Coetzee is expected to be removed from his post once due procedure has been followed, with SA Rugby having conducted a… Read more →
The Blitzboks – like the Springboks – delivered a substandard performance in the final tournament of the year, writes JON CARDINELLI. One couldn’t help but feel a little flat when leaving the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday evening. After all the hype, after all the build-up, the Blitzboks finished the Cape Town Sevens in third place. The fans certainly did their… Read more →
SA Rugby must strive to add a coach with a different way of thinking to the Springbok setup from next year, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Can the Boks really rebound from a period of dire stagnation to be regarded as genuine contenders when the 2019 World Cup rolls around in less than two years? Sadly, all the current signs suggest not…. Read more →
Allister Coetzee could learn his fate this week as SA Rugby conducts its review of a 2017 season that yielded just seven wins, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Towards the end of last week, SA Rugby’s executive and general councils met in Cape Town to address a range of subjects, but Coetzee’s position was not on the agenda at that time. However,… Read more →
The venues for the Springboks’ three home Rugby Championship matches in 2018 have been confirmed. South Africa will host Argentina at Kings Park in their opening match on 18 August, followed by the two away legs (three Tests) between 25 August and 15 September. Upon their return home, they will take on the Wallabies at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium… Read more →
Misconceptions and prejudices related to the subject of so-called ‘quota’ selections must be eradicated if we are to move forward as a rugby nation, writes CRAIG LEWIS. On Saturday, just three players of colour started the Springboks’ Test against Wales. Yet, in the aftermath of another disappointing defeat, there was the usual routine in certain sectors on social media where transformation… Read more →
